Wire rope



Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES HERBERT L. wmr'rnmonn, or WASHINGTON, msrmcr or coLUMBiL.

1,699,174 PATENT. OFFICE.

WIRE ROPE.

' Application filed November 5, 1927. Serial- No. 231,309.

resist the compressive forces which are ex erted by the strandsas they straighten outand-therefore approach the axis of the rope. Jute, flax, cotton, sisal, and manila fibers are generally used for the core of wire ropes.

but under severe conditions failure of the core causes the strands to become displaced and the rope rapidly deteriorates and fails. The failure of the core is due to the constant rubbing of the fibers thereof over each other and considerable compressive strength com bined with thepropeity of being deformed considerably without fracture.

Another object of my invention consists in the use of a core which will hold lubricant adapted to be gradually forced out-into contact with the strands to lubricate the wires' 'lVith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the features of construction and operation set forth in the foliowin g specification. y

' Referring to the drawings: r

Fig. 1 is an end View of a rope constructec in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is awiew in elevation of a ropesection with a portion of the core uncovered.

Fig. 3 illustrates means for conveying lubricant to, a rope built in accordance with my invention.

Similar characters of reference corresponds to similarparts'in the differentviews.

A indicates a wire rope, which, as shown, is composed of several strands B of which there may be any desirable number}. The strands may also contain any suitable number of wires C. c i

I use a core formed of a metal strip 3 bent into a helical spring of the desired diameter such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The crosssection of this metal strip may be of any form, round or rectangular. A rectangular strip is the preferred shape for the reason that V 7 it offers better resistance to the wear as it presents a greater surface to thewires forming the strand. The strip 3 may be of any suitable material but spring steel is preferably used. The spring temper is obtained by irrapping the annealed strip around a mandrel of suitable size, then heat-treating it to produce the desired'physical properties be fore the rope is fabricated by laying the strands around the core.

The helix should preferably not be wound too close, that is. with the coils in contact. The coils should be separated by suitablespaces 2, so that they may coinetogether on the inside of the bend when the rope is used around a sheave or a drum, or the like.

The strands should preferably cross the coils of the core at as great an angle as practicable, therefore, the lay of the strands should be right hand and the helix of the core left handor vice versa'. v

I provide the helical core strip with concave depressions or grooves 4 formed helically along the outer periphery of the strip and corresponding in number to the number of strands, so that each strand lays in a depression or groove on the core strip. It is apparent that the area in contact between the strands and the core in this modification is much increased and the advantages of such construction will be readily understood.

' In Fig. 3 I have shown means forsupplying lubricant to a wire rope embodying a core of my construction. Heretofore, in renew ing the. lubricant on a wire rope, it has been necessary to apply it to the outside ofthe rope and in this manner a quantity of the lubricant finds its way through thewires of the strands and is absorbed by the core. The ineffectiveness of this method of lubrication shortens the life of a wire rope considerably. I overcomethis difliculty by feedingthe lubricating medium under pressure directly to the hollow core whence it passes to the strands, and out to the outer periphery thereof. v

At E conventionally shown a clevis or bridge socket or other suitable attaching means to which thedead end of the rope is fastened, it being understood that the load is secured .to one, end .of the clevis, or brid e socket. At F is shown a pipe permanent y mounted in the clevis or socket. This pipe is in communication with an oil pump or other.

suitable pressure producing means so that a I p lubricating medium may be supplied through the pipe F to the hollowvcore. The lubricant will thus find its way to'the spaces between the helical coils of .the core and thence throu bout the length of the rope, to all the stra'n spas it is needed.

The advantages of a helical core will be readily apparent. It has a much greater compressive strength than the fiber core used heretofore and will deform sufficiently to permit the rope to pass over sheaves, drums or the like, without excessive stresses in the strand wires. It resists wear and permanent deformation much better than a fiber core core may be readily used in wire ropes having any strand fabrication orconstruction and that I intend the scopeof my invention as disclosed herein and defined in the appended claims to include modifications and other adaptations which this disclosure will readilysuggest to persons skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let- I ters Patent, is

1. In a wire rope, a plurality of wire strands, a hollow core comprising'a flat me-= tallic strip wound as a helix, and a plurality ofhelical grooves on theout'er periphery of the helical core providing bearing surfaces for the strands.

2. In a Wire rope, a plurality of wire strands, a hollow core adapted to contain lubricant and comprising a metallic strip wound as a helix, and aplurality of helical grooves on the outer periphery of the helical core providing bearing surfaces for the strands. 4

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this-4 day of November, 1927.

, HERBERT L. WHITTEMOR 

